Presidential Race Maps Writing on the Wall Voices on the Ground
Where Am I?
If you want punditry, visit an opinion-based political website. If you want a comprehensive, up-to-the-minute picture of what voters are actually thinking and feeling, you're in the right place. We gauge the mood of the nation and predict the outcome of elections from the perspective of where it matters the most: with voters on the ground.
Writing on the Wall
Writing on the Wall
What is the current state of politics, the electorate, and the nation at large?
Read the Writing
Voices on the Ground
Voices on the Ground
What have you heard
and seen?
Pundits spend much of their time listening to each other.
We’re more interested in listening to you.
Hear the Latest
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Presidential Race Maps
Presidential Race Maps

Our innovative presidential election maps and blog offer a snapshot of where things stand and where they are headed in the state-by-state hunt for electoral votes.

Explore the Map

Tracking the Nation
Some statistics—like presidential and congressional approval ratings—are vital for tracking the nation’s political mood.

Others may have a significant impact on voter sentiment, from the price of gasoline to American military fatalities in Iraq. Updated continually, our statistical charts serve as the backdrop for our electoral analysis.

  • President-Elect Barack Obama--Approval Rating : Approve: 64.0% Disapprove: 33.0%
  • Pres. Bush Job Approval: Approv. 26.0%/Disapprov. 69.2% (poll average)
  • US Congress Job Approval: Approv. 14.3%/Disapprov. 75.0% (poll average)
  • Direction of Country: Right Track 8.3%/Wrong Track 87.3% (poll average)
  • Unemployment Rate: +6.5 (October 2008)
  • Payroll Employment: -240,000 (October 2008) -1,200,000 (since Jan 1, 2008)
  • Consumer Price Index (CPI): -1.0% (October 2008)
  • Gasoline: National Average (Gallon): $1.81 -0.08 (wk ago) -1.25 (yr ago)
  • US Military Deaths in Iraq: 4207 (+80 from 7/30/08)
  • US Housing Starts: -4.5% (October 2008) Worst Since 1947
  • Cable News Ratings (primetime): FNC (Fox) 2.2M/CNN 1.1M/MSNBC 1.0M